The Elf Blog

I Believe

I Believe in Santa Claus.

I Believe that the best presents have no price tags and need no wrapping.

I Believe that no cookie is sweeter than time spent with loved ones.

I Believe that the brightest stars shine in the eyes of children.

I Believe that hope does not disappoint.

I Believe that love can win and peace is possible.

I Believe in the power of Christmas.

Merry Christmas with love to you all.

Christmas Alone

Spending time with family and loved ones is a major focus of holiday celebrations.  Still, not everyone can do that.  They may live far away from those they love.  They may be estranged from their families or have no one left. Maybe circumstances (or time or money) make it difficult to get together with family and friends.  All the stress on family and gathering can make your loneliness cut more sharply.

I can't magically transport you to your loved ones or heal old wounds or bring back those you have lost, but if you will be alone on Christmas, please email me before 3 p.m. EST on Christmas Eve at chiefelf at aol dot com with a phone number where you can be reached and your time zone.  On Christmas Day, you will receive a call from your friendly neighborhood Elf.  Seriously.  That's what Elves are for.

Must See TV

I don't usually use this blog to promote specific television programs, but last night I watched a winner:  Prep and Landing on ABC. 

It was clever, funny, and totally family friendly.  It explains how elves help Santa make all his stops on Christmas Eve!

ABC will be replaying it next Wednesday, December 16th, at 8:00 pm EST.  Set your DVR now!

Absence and the Week Ahead

Sorry for the absence.  It was a combination of holiday festivities and a problematic internet connection at home.

We'll have our usual countdown on Thursday, but here are a few things to keep in mind for the week ahead:

• If you saved your turkey carcass from Thanksgiving, you need to make it into stock today or tomorrow.  Just put the carcass into your largest pot and cover completely with cold water.  Add some roughly chopped celery, a quartered onion or two, salt and pepper, and fresh herbs you have on hand (parsley and thyme are especially good).  If you don't have fresh herbs, you can use some dried poultry seasoning.  Bring the pot to a boil, then turn it down to simmer.  Check it on occasion to make sure nothing sticks to the bottom and burns.  After a couple of hours, turn it off and let it cool slightly.  The fat will solidify on top, making it easier to remove.  Strain the contents of the pot into another pot or a couple of large bowls.  A pasta strainer lined with new Handiwipes works like a dream.  Discard everything that remains in the strainer.  The broth can be frozen in zipper lock bags to make lovely soup on cold winter days.
• Today is the beginning of December.  That means it's time for panic to set in!  In truth, it means it's time to be reasonable about your plans and expectations.  Make a list of everything you want to do.  Now, delete at least a quarter of the list.  I'm serious.  Either delete it or find a way to outsource it.  For example, you can hire someone to clean your house.  You might be able to hire someone to put up your outside decorations.  You can buy at least some party refreshments pre-made.  Whatever you decide to delete, it's a sure bet that people will remember your calm and joy far more than they would miss the deletions.
• Carve out tiny blocks of time to do things you love.  Walk around the neighborhood and enjoy others' Christmas decorations. Take a hot bath while listening to Christmas music or drink some hot chocolate in front of a fire.  Bonus points if you make smores.

The Unexpected

No matter how much you plan, you can't control every aspect of life.  For example, this morning, my dog woke me in the wee hours of the morning because she wasn't feeling well.

Dealing with the situation required cleaning up after her, sitting with her until the vet office opened, hecking in with the vet during the day, picking her up, doing laundry, and spending some quality snuggling time.  None of that was on today's agenda.  Nor was the vet bill in this month's budget.

That's not a reason not to plan.  It's a reason to stay flexible.  I may have to reschedule some things and juggle some other things, but being planned and organized gives me the freedom to do those things.  And planning my saving lets me handle the unexpected bills without too much stress.

And most important, my dog is doing much better.

Hershey at Halloween

Last week, I made my adorable dog, Hershey, a Halloween costume. I used sale fabric I picked up in a big box store for less than $5 (and I have tons left for other projects).  I downloaded a free stencil for the monogram and I made a pattern from newspaper.  All told, it cost less than a dollar and took about an hour and a half -- most of that trying to measure her while she squirmed.

Here are the results:

Pretty cute, eh?  And the cape is nice too.

Wait 'Til the Reindeer See This!

I haven't been with you for a few days because I've been learning to fly:

 

OK, so I can't fly outside the wind tunnel or pull a sleigh full of toys, but it was still cool! 

Six-Month Anniversary

Six months ago, Hershey came to live with me.  Hershey is a very sweet terrier mix who was rescued from a puppy mill in North Carolina.

In six months, she has gone from being a nervous dog who wouldn't go outside and who was tentative about everything to a kissy, confident dog who thinks she's the neighborhood welcome wagon, responsible for greeting EVERYONE.

Having a pet does require changes, however.  There are new expenses for veterinary care, food, licensing, toys, etc.  Things get messier faster, requiring more cleaning.  Time must be planned more carefully, around walks and playtime and feeding.  Dogs can't be left alone for too many hours, so errands and other trips must be scheduled carefully.

If you are thinking about getting a pet, please check out your local shelter.  And, in the meantime, start planning and decluttering to make space for a furry friend!

Unexpected Occurrences

No matter how much you plan, sometimes, life just happens.

On Friday night, my hot water heater decided to give up the ghost -- spilling it all over my kitchen floor.  On Saturday, I had a plumber come in to install a new one --a significant unanticipated expense.

This is why it's so imoprtant to have an emergency fund.  It takes one stress away from such nasty surprises.  If you don't have savings set aside for unexpected occurrences, try to set aside a bit each week until you have a fund built up.  the hardest part is remembering NOT TO TOUCH IT unless there's a real emergency.  (No, hard as it is to believe, a shoe sale is not an emergency.)

An Elf Recommendation

On my recent vacation, I visited a magical place.  No, not the North Pole.  In my world, that's a business trip!

I made two visits to the Spa at Colonial Williamsburg.  Any spa treatment comes with access to the steam room, hot tub, and lounges.  The amenities include everything from beauty products and chilled cloths dampened with lavender water to custom-blended teas and almonds.  (You can purchase the beauty products and teas at the spa boutique.  If you run out once you get home, they'll ship.)

The staff is solicitous and professional; thoroughly competent, yet charming and helpful. A wide variety of treatments are offered, so you have plenty of choice.  They even have a special suite where couples or mothers and daughters or best friends can receive treatments side-by-side.

There is one significant danger:  you may never want to leave, it's so relaxing and lovely.

Now, you'll notice this blog post isn't categorized as a money-saving venture.  Well, it isn't one.  This isn't an inexpoensive treat.  It's a splurge.  But it's worth it!